Headspace Gas Oxygen Measurement via Circulating Pump and Sensor Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring oxygen content in the headspace of beverage containers are inefficient, often requiring complex procedures, are temperature-dependent, and struggle with foaming liquids, leading to inaccurate or incomplete oxygen content determination.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that circulate headspace gas through a sensor unit using a pump, allowing for precise measurement of oxygen content and partial pressure without direct sensor insertion, and includes features like foam handling and temperature adjustment to improve measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the oxygen content in headspace gas is measured by introducing a sensor directly into the headspace, then the measurement can be performed directly, but the measurement is highly temperature-dependent and requires precise temperature measurement which is difficult to place due to lack of space
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is extracted from the headspace environment and placed in an external measurement chamber. The headspace gas is sampled and introduced into this chamber for measurement, separating the sensor from the temperature-fluctuating headspace environment while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
A measurement chamber serves as an intermediary between the headspace gas and the oxygen sensor. This chamber provides a controlled environment for the sensor while allowing headspace gas to be introduced for analysis, decoupling the sensor from direct exposure to headspace temperature variations
2Device complexity
If headspace gas is measured without flow, then the measurement setup is simple, but the sensor adjustment is very slow or does not take place completely
Solution Approach 1:
A pump continuously circulates headspace gas through the measurement chamber and back to the container. This continuous flow ensures constant supply of fresh gas to the sensor, maintaining steady-state conditions and enabling complete sensor adjustment without interruption
Solution Approach 2:
A pumping system creates controlled gas flow through the measurement chamber. The pump forces headspace gas to circulate continuously through the sensor, ensuring adequate flow for proper sensor adjustment and measurement while maintaining system simplicity
3Quantity of substance
If only a few milliliters of headspace gas are available, then the sampling is minimal, but it becomes difficult to flow the headspace gas past the oxygen sensor and achieve stable adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The pump creates a continuous circulation loop that repeatedly passes the limited headspace gas volume through the measurement chamber. This continuous recycling allows the sensor to adjust progressively using the same small gas sample, achieving stable measurements without requiring large gas volumes
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement chamber serves multiple functions: it accommodates the oxygen sensor, provides a controlled measurement environment, and enables continuous circulation of limited headspace gas through the pump system, maximizing the utility of small gas volumes
4Measurement precision
If the measurement is performed by chemical method using soda solution, then the oxygen content can be calculated, but the method cannot be automated and requires exact knowledge of headspace gas composition
Solution Approach 1:
The manual chemical absorption method is replaced with an electronic oxygen sensor that directly measures oxygen content. The pump-based gas circulation system automates the sample handling and delivery, eliminating manual operations while providing direct electrical measurement of oxygen concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The oxygen sensor automatically detects and measures the oxygen content in the circulated headspace gas without requiring external intervention. The system self-regulates the measurement process through continuous gas circulation and automatic sensor reading, eliminating the need for manual calculation based on gas composition assumptions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and efficient determination of oxygen content in headspace gas, independent of temperature and volume, with improved handling of foaming liquids, ensuring accurate and reliable results.
Implementation Method 1
the headspace gas in the headspace of the container is pumped to a sensor unit containing a number of sensors, by means of a pump via the sampling tube and/or the hollow piercer
Implementation Method 2
the oxygen content and/or the oxygen partial pressure and especially the headspace volume of the headspace gas is determined by the sensor unit
Data Source
AI summary
A device determines an oxygen content of a headspace gas in a liquid-filled container. The device contains a piercer, a sampling tube, a piercing head on which the piercer and the sampling tube are disposed, a pump, a ring line, and a sensor unit disposed within the ring line and used to determine the oxygen content and/or an oxygen partial pressure of the headspace gas of the liquid-filled container. The ring line is configured such that the headspace gas of the liquid-filled container can be sampled via the piercer or the piercing head by use of the pump and can be returned into the headspace of the liquid-filled container via the sampling tube.